You leave alot unsaid - what will you be hunting?

With regard to shotguns, you should probably take a look at the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 - both good values for the money. I like the Mossberg - I think it is just as good as the Remington and cheaper. And if your going to be getting a slug barrel for the shotgun, I like the fact that the Mossberg slug barrel comes with a cantilevered scope mount.

Pray for a lottery, or sweepstakes, winning and prices BE DAMNED!
Until then, the 870 shotgun, and Savage rifles won't steer you wrong for the price!

i agree 870 express is cheap and very reliable

bamaoutdoorsman, isn't adding the SBE2 to the list like adding Rolls Royce to a list of chevy, ford, and dodge?

Last I knew, new SBE2's were selling for over $1400.00.

Everyone right on with the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 for shotguns. They're very versitile and getting parts and chokes is easy. As far as rifles go, ammo is where you spend all your money. Stick with a common calibur that's versitile (.308, .30-06, or .270 are a few great calibur choices.) As for make and model...everyone has their preferences, but Savage puts out a quality rifle with an adjustable trigger that is definitely worth looking into.

I don't know your price range but I really like my 12 Gauge Browning BPS Shotgun for the price I paid. I think it was around $450. It has served me well and shoots a good pattern and also accurate using slugs in the smooth bore barrel. If you don't have that much to spend I say go with what the others have been saying in the Mossberg 500. It is a great, very reliable shotgun and will probably save you a hundred or so.

I think WAM has a good list. Can't go wrong with his picks.

I agree with everyone on the shotguns. I have only owned mossbergs. One for slugs and one for ducks. the slug gun is spot on every year. Just took my first big muley (to me).
As far as the rifle yes the Savage is cheap and good gun I just don't like the safety on mine. when unloading my 30.06 you must have the safety off. My brother-in-law flipped off the safety and gun went off immediately shot a good sized Chevy tahoe with it. Here we have a new store called bargine hunter. They deal with new and used hunting and outdoor gear. They are super on prices.

For an all around rifle I would suggest a Win. 243. This is an excellent cartridge that will be used on all sorts of game big and small. For a shotgun get a pump 12 or 20 ga. All of the American brands are good and serviceable guns.

i guess jay, but he didnt list a price range. I was just throwing somthing in there. He didnt ask for good prices, he asked for good guns, and the sbe2 is a great gun(i prefer american myself.) I listed the main guns and then threw in the sbe2.

The 870 is a classic and works great with almost no problems.

so, how did your 770 foul up? I want to know what to look for when it does.

for rifles: remington model 700 sps. they are decently priced rifles and really accurate, you cant beat a 700. im not a huge fan of remington 770 or any of those "ready out of the box" guns. i think they are really cheezy and you wont be happy with it over time. most of my rifles are either remington 700s or savages and i absolutly love them.
for shotguns: i agree with what most people have said. remington 870 or mossberg 500. both good guns and pretty cheap.

REMEMBER YOU GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR!!

The best rifle is the one your willing to site in, and run some shells through it, and withstand the kick. I hated to site in my 7MM MAG...sold it, and now only shoot shotguns, and no 3 1/2 " shells!

I'd say a mossberg 835, pretty good gun. $400 range. 12 gauge. Gets a little bit rusty from time to time even with oil tho. You want the option of shooting 3.5 inch 12 gauge rounds, so I'd say no to a 500. And the 535's kick like mules. Worth the extra bucks for the overbored, ported barrel, and steel receiver on the 835.

For a rifle i swear by a 7mm Rem Mag (Really accurate, but really heavy to carry around the woods), but I had tons of luck with .243 as a kid (Lot less kick for a first rifle), a lot of people swear by the 30-06, also a great caliber, the guns a lot lighter than a 7mm rem mag too. The Remington 770 is a good choice. Weatherby vanguards a real good gun with accuracy guarantees, for tighter clusters the more you pay. (Start around $450) I'd stay away from mossberg rifles, the blueing on them is terrible. Unless you get it in stainless, which are still at a very good price.

For hunts I'd recommend starting out with deer and turkey, because all you need is a gun and clothes. Waterfowling is my favorite, but you need decoys, waiders (Hipboots=bad idea, I always filled them and you get your butt all wet if you sit down in something wet) to start. Then Comes the Avery Quickset, A mercury four stroke, more decoys, electronic decoys, a few more dozen decoys, then a bigger boat and motor and blind to carry the decoys. It's never ending.

And, All hunting gear will blow up on you. Your order a hundred bucks in gear here, a few hundred bucks there, and soon you don't know what you have anymore.